There is a common belief that ‘to be seen busy’ is a sign of success and many bask in the glory of being branded a‘workaholic’
Sabyasachi Dutta
A quick English translation of the Italian phrase dolce far niente is ‘sweetness of doing nothing.’It is an Italian philosophythat implores people to relax and slow down the daily madchase,oftentimes,to touch near-impossible targets. The act of discovering the joy and savouring each moment, living life in the present and finding beauty in simplicity without the constant pressure to be seenbusy are all distilled facets of dolce far niente.
Many say it was first noticed being used in the movie ‘Eat, Pray, Love’ which is an adaptation of American author Elizabeth Gilbert’s memoir. Though dolce far niente is a practice of doing nothing yet it ostensiblyshould not make one feel guilty while availing it. Instead, it ought toinject the thought of having earned the valued ‘free time’ for oneself without getting haunted by the ghosts of impending tasks.
There is a common belief that ‘to be seen busy’ is a sign of success and many bask in the glory of being branded a‘workaholic’. But they might be unmindful that life also demands brakes to keep their vehicle not veering off track. One needs such ‘brakes’ to recalibrate their journey disconnectedfrom routine and come back stronger; recharged.
(Country General Manager of a British MNC in India)
To some, dolce far niente may seem like lazing around or wasting precious time. However, it is not about being lazy; but taking the time off to enjoy simple pleasures in life and appreciate the beauty of the world around us that we often tend to overlook.
Another esoteric word – of Danish origin – is hyggeoften considered as a synonym todolce far niente and has a near similar meaning, to relax and enjoy life’s quieter pleasures.
Finding balance, sharpening focus as one unwinds, appreciating nature’s marvels and establishing a deep connect with one’s inner self are all wonderful outputs of dolce far niente.
It need not be an extravagant exercise but can be as simple as taking a walk in the woods or sipping a cup of tea watching the world from one’swindow or spending ‘me time’ in serene isolation.Often noticed, many suffer from the guilt pang at the idea of spending time on oneself. However, the benefits are aplenty of dolce far niente– to‘chill’ in an environment that is laid-back and where seemingly time stands still.
Let’s learn that beyond slogging hours, kudos, and rewards there exists a life. One must strive to live life to the fullest, each day every moment.
